This tutorial establishes the following workflow:
SSH Keys are stored in KeePassXC. After the - password protected - KeePass databased is opend,
the SSH Keys are automatically transfered to the PuTTY Pageant and MobaXterm uses the SSH Key
from the PuTTY Pageant to authenticate via SSH.
Prerequisite #
PuTTY Pageant` #
Install PuTTY and add the PuTTY Pageant to Windows Startup folder.
C:\Program Files\PuTTY\pageant.exe |
Create Shortcut |
Open Startup Folder | |
win + r |
Open Run Dialog |
shell:startup |
Open Startup folder |
Copy Pageant shortcut into Startup folder |
OpenSSH Client #
Open the Optional Features
dialog and install OpenSSH Client
,
depending on the weather it may be necessary to reboot the system.
Alternative just manually add the following Environment Path Variable:
C:\Windows\System32\OpenSSH
Open the terminal and check if the OpenSSH Client is installed: ssh
Troubleshooting: If ssh.exe is still not found, check if the C:\Windows\System32\OpenSSH
exists, if not, uninstall OpenSSH Client, reboot and reinstall OpenSSH Client.
Create SSH Key #
Create RSA Key with 4096 bit:
ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096
Optional define path and name of key:
ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -f C:\SSH\jklug.work
KeePassXC #
Add SSH Key #
Download and install KeePassXC: https://keepassxc.org/download/
Create a new Database and add a new entry for the SSH key:
Option: If you defined a password for the SSH Key, add the password to the KeePass entry:
Open the Advanced
section and add the private SSH Key as attachment:
Open the SSH Agent
section and select the private SSH Key from the
attachment menu.
Make sure the following options are enabled:
Add key to agent when database is opend
Remove key from the agent when database is closed
Optional: If the Add key to agent when database is opend
option is not anabled
you can manually add the SSH Key to the PuTTY Pageant:
Settings:
Open the Tools / Settings
panel and make sure Enable SSH Agent integration
is enabled.
Allow Screencapture #
By default the KeePassXC invisible in remote sessions like MS Teams screen sharing, Anydesk and TeamViewer. If you need to administrate KeePass in a remote session you can temporary allow screencapture:
Open a terminal session | |
cd 'C:\Program Files\KeePassXC' |
Open the KeePassXC.exe dir |
.\KeePassXC.exe --allow-screencapture |
Run KeePassXC |
MobaXterm #
Settings:
Open the Settings / Configuration / SSH
panel and make sure
Use external Pageant
is enabled.